Game apparatus



W. V. MIDDLETON GAME APPARATUS July 12, 1938.

Original Filed Nov. 7, i932 4 Sheets-Sheet l y 2, 1938- w. v. MIDDLE' I'ON 2,123,195

I GAME APPARATUS July 12 1938. w. v. MIDDLETON GAME APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 7, 1932 4 Shets-Sheet 3 *DWAR July 12, 193%,. w. v. Ml DDLETON GAME APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 7, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 12, 1938 PATENT OFFICE GAMEAPPARATUS William v. Middleton, Trenton, N. J. ApplicationNovember 7, 1932, Serial No. 641,677

Renewed August '13, 1936 6 Claims." (01. 27 3-33) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in game apparatus and has particular relation to apparatus facilitating practice in playing golf.

The principal object of the invention isto provide an apparatus whereby one may improve his or her game of golf and having in combination a novel target or back-stop, an automatic ball teeing device, and means for returning the ball from the target to said teeing device.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an apparatus of the character described having a target equipped with a novel curtain composed of overlapping bafile strips or shutters arranged to substantially check the terrific speed of the golf ball yet permit passage of said ball through the curtain inwardly of the target.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described having in combination an automatic ball teeing device for positioning successive balls accurately in position on a tee for successive practice strokes.

A more specific object of the invention is to *provide an automatic ball teeing device in conjunctionwith the present apparatus having novel "means whereby the time intervalbetween successive teeingoperations may be predeterminedly Varied depending upon the particular golf stroke and club being used by the player. l

A further object of theinvention is to provide.

a device of the stated character whichis beneficial to general health, as well as a golf practicing means that may be set up within the confines of limited space, is of rugged construction and relatively easy to assemble for play, and is attractive and desirable for use by others as well as golf enthusiasts.

Other features and details of the invention are set forth hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a viewin elevation of the apparatus constituting the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section .through the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section through the target or back-stop of the apparatus;

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged view in perspective of the back-stop showing certain details of construction embodied therein;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View insectionishowing the bottom structure of the back-stop and the trough constituting means for returning the ,ball to the teeing device;

Fig. 6 is a view in .perspectiveshowing \the teeingdevice and a player about to make a golf stroke from the tee;

Fig. ,7 is a view in section transversely through the automatic teeing device;

Fig. 8 is'a viewin perspective of the tee proper; 5

Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal section showing the structural and mechanical details of the teeingdevice; and

Fig.l0 is a view in perspective showing a modified form of framework for the back-stop or 10 target.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus comprising the present invention includes a back-stop or target structure mounted as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of 5 the drawings, on a'base I by means of vertical standard groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively, the latter standards 3 being of substantially less height than the other of said standards. An upper or top frame 5 is secured at the upperends of the vertical standards 2 and 3 and projects in overhanging relation therebeyond in the direction of the relatively'short standards 4, as shown. A back-stop 6 comprising side walls I and bottom and rear portions 9, and ID, respectively, is suspended'on the frame Within the vertical standards 2 and 3 and the top frame structure 5. by means of laces or other means I I.

sidewalls l2 made of canvas or other suitable material extend "outwardly from the back-stop and are secured respectively to the overhanging portion of the top frame 5 and the intermediate vertical standards 3, the forward or diverging ends of the said sides [2 being secured to the short standards 4 by means of suitable lacing means 13. An'inclined roof or cover M is secured by means of laces I 5 to the overhanging top frame 5 intermediate the diverging side walls l2 constituting a baflle intended to direct the flight of a golf ball into the back-stop; A ramp l6 composed of material similar to that comprised in the back-stop and side walls of the apparatus is secured to the base structure I at its forward .enduadjacent the short standards 4 and is in clined :rearwardlytoward thedback-stop over'a transverse member-.11 supported by means of a spring strip [8, the other end of which is-secured to the "base structure I. The canvas ramp I6 .after passing over the transverse member I1 slopes downwardly into the back-stop 6 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

For .the purpose of checking the terrific speed of a hard struck golf ball directed into the back- .stop 6, ithas been found advisable to provide a shock curtain, designated generally as 19, composed of bafile strips 26 fabricated of rope, canvas,

webbing or the like, and arranged vertically or horizontally in rearwardly overlapping relation as at 2|. The baflle strips in the present instance are preferably hemmed at the top as at 22 and provided with heavy cord or rope inserts 23 projecting beyond the ends of each flap and constituting suitable fastening means therefor to the vertical standards 3 of the frame. The arrangement as described when struck from the front by a golf ball in free flight, allows the particular baffle strip to swing inwardly with respect to the back-stop and permit entrance of the ball internally thereof. The momentary check and reaction of the baffles 26 practically halts rebound flight of the golf ball and it summarily drops to the bottom of the back-stop. A second or emergency shock curtain 24 is positioned adjacent the rear of the back-stop 6 and is freely suspended from the top of the side walls I as at 25.

An inclined trough or channel 26 is positioned in the lower end of the back-stop 6 normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the inclined ramp I 6, the said channel or trough 26 extending fully across the back-stop proper between the side wall portions 1 thereof. A conduit or other ball conveying means 21 is connected at the lower end of the trough 26 and descends gradually along one side of the back-stop to an automatic teeing device designated generally as 28, as in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

It should be pointed out at this time that the inner faces of the diverging side walls I2 and the front face of the baflle shock curtain l9 may be provided with certain landscape or pastoral scenery simulating a golf course, for the purpose of rendering the apparatus more pleasingto the eyes of the person using the device, one particular adaptation thereof being disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. A particular feature of the present invention resides in the novel automatic ball teeing device 28, which is arranged to reside in an opening or cutout 29 formed. in a driving mat 30 to retain. the teeing device in proper relation, to the driving tee so that the ball may be placed accurately at all times upon the tee element 3|. The tee element 3| in the present instance is composed of relatively soft pliable material such as rubber or the like, which is inserted in an aperture 32 in the mat 30 and projects slightly thereabove so that the golf club head when. making a stroke will lift the ball clear of said mat. In the present instance the tee element proper 3| comprises a circular base portion Sid and an annular ring or sleeve 3|b, the said sleeve being of such diameter rendering it capable of supporting the standard golf ball.

The automatic teeing device comprises a housing 33 in which is formed a slightly inclined channel or trough 34 and one end of the previously mentioned channel or conduit 21 for returning the golf balls to the teeing device is connected thereto as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings. An electric motor 35 or other source of rotative power is mounted within the housing 33 and is operatively connected to a shaft 36 through a gear housing 31, the said shaft 36 being rotatably supported in a bearing 38. A plurality of gears 39, 49 and 4|, respectively, are mounted for rotation with the shaft 36 and a second shaft 43 is rotatably journalled in the aforementioned bearing 33 and the bearing 42. A number of gears 44, 45, and 46 are similarly mounted for rotation with the shaft 43, and the said shafts 36 and 43 are suitably positioned to enable each of the sets of gears thereon, 39 and 44, 40 and 45, 4| and 46, to be respectively meshed, depending upon the desired speed of rotation. of the shaft 43. The arrangement just described provides a several-speed change gear mechanism, effected by shifting a change speed lever 41, provided at its inner end with fingers 41a. embracing the gears 44 and 45 and imparting a sliding movement thereto, together with the shaft 43, placing any one of desired previously mentioned sets or pairs of gears on the two shafts in meshed relation.

'A cam 43, having several cam surfaces 49, 50 and 5| is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 43 so that when the shaft is displaced longitudinally by means of the change speed lever 41 the cam 48 similarly moves and. positions the corresponding cam surface into operative position with respect to a depending pin 52 extending below a rod 53, which is slidably mounted, but not rotatably, in a. bearing 54 and the projecting bracket 55 on the front face of the housing 33. A slot 56 is formed adjacent the forward end of the rod 53, as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings, and is arranged to receive a pin 51 which is rigidly secured to and projects radially from a shaft 58.

A track 59 comprising parallel runner members 66 is rigidly mounted at one end upon the shaft 58 and a spring 6| is also mounted upon the shaft 58 in such a manner as to tend to normally maintain the track 59 in the position shown in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings. The track 59 is provided with a rearwardly extending curved member 62, arranged when the track 59 assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7, to pass upwardly to a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7 to preclude-passage of more than. one golf ball at a time to the tee 3|.

In the operation of the device the downwardly projecting pin 52 is engaged by one of the cam surfaces 49, 50, or 5|, depending upon the position of the change speed lever 41 and the particular cam surface engaging said pin 52 moves the rod 53 to the right with respect to Fig. 7, thus pivoting the pin 51 and the shaft 58 in a counterclockwise direction to pivot the track 59 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7, permitting travel of one golf ball therealong to the annular tee element 3|b as shown.

The particular feature of the invention resides in the novel provision whereby the periodic positioning of successive golf balls upon the tee 3| may be varied within predetermined limits as may be desirable depending upon the particular golf club being employed and the type of shot, or stroke being made. It is well known that when using a driver or analogous club known commonly as a wood, a greater length of time is usually taken to address the ball and make the stroke than is customary when making strokes of the approach or chip variety with the iron clubs. It will be noted therefore that when using clubs of the first mentioned class that a substantially slower period of operation of the teeing device is desirable than when using the various.

irons in which instance an operating cycle that is relatively faster may be had by accordingly positioning the change speed lever 4! to mesh the corresponding pair of gears and position the corresponding surface of the cam 48 in operative relation with the pin 52 on the actuating rod 53.

The energization of the motor 35 may be controlled in any suitable manner by a switch or rheostat and it is suggested that such a switch be disposed in proximity to the player's foot, as shown in Fig. 6, rendering relatively easy operation and control of the practice apparatus.

A modification or a modified form of the backstop frame structure is disclosed in Fig. 10 of the drawings, and comprises vertical standards 63, releasable base and top strut members 64 and pivotally mounted side bars or laces 65. A webbing for the support of the diverging side Walls l2, the convas ramp l6 and overhanging cover member I4 is suspended in the front face of the back stop frame by means of springs 66, adjustable for tension and position by means of turnbuckles 66a, and a hinged support 61 is pivotally connected to the front face of the frame structure, above the lower end thereof to be positioned as shown in Fig. 10, constituting an inclined support for the previously described canvas ramp l6. A trough 68 is mounted at the lower end of the frame structure and functions in a manner similar to the trough 26 previously described in connection with the preferred form of back-stop.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a stationary tee arranged to support balls in driving position thereon, a ball reservoir having an outlet spaced laterally from said tee, means for conducting balls from the reservoir to the tee, said means normally residing adjacent and obstructing the reservoir outlet to retain the balls therein, means for acmating said ball conducting means at periodic intervals to conduct the balls in the reservoir, one at a time, to driving position on the tee, and means operable at will to predeterminedly change the time interval of the periodic operation of the ball conducting means.

2. In combination, a stationary tee arranged to support balls in driving position thereon, a ball reservoir having an outlet spaced laterally from said tee, means for conducting balls from the reservoir to the tee, said means normally residing adjacent and obstructing the reservoir outlet to retain the balls therein, means for actuating said ball conducting means at periodic intervals to conduct the balls in the reservoir one at a time, to driving position on the tee, means tending to return the ball conducting means to its normal position obstructing the reservoir outlet at all times, and means operable at will to predeterminedly change the time interval of the periodic operation of the ball conducting means.

3. In combination, a stationary tee arranged to support balls in driving position thereon, a ball reservoir having an outlet spaced laterally from said tee, means for conducting balls from the reservoir to the tee, means for oscillating said ball conducting means at periodic intervals, whereby the balls in the reservoir are conducted, one at a time, to driving position on the tee, means forming part of said ball conducting means obstructing the outlet of the reservoir during oscillation of the ball conducting means to prevent the other balls in said reservoir from emerging therefrom, and means operable at will to predeterminedly change the time interval of the periodic oscillations of the ball conducting means.

4. In combination, a tee to support balls in driving position thereon, a ball teeing device adjacent the tee, the said ball teeing device including a ball reservoir, a rod slidably mounted in said device, a pin extending therefrom, and a rotatable cam arranged to intermittently engage said pin and move the rod inwardly of the device, and ball conducting means pivotally mounted adjacent the reservoir for engagement by said rod whereby said ball conducting means is actuated to conduct a ball from said reservoir to driving position on the tee.

5. In combination, a tee to support balls in driving position thereon, a ball teeing device adjacent the tee, the said ball teeing device including a ball reservoir, a rod slidably mounted in said device, a pin extending therefrom, a cam having a plurality of different cam surfaces thereon arranged to selectively engage said pin and move the rod inwardly of the device, means for imparting rotating movement to said cam, means operable at will for positioning the cam so that 7 any one of the desired cam surfaces thereon will engage the pin, and ball conducting means pivotally mounted adjacent the reservoir for actuation by said rod to conduct a. ball from said reservoir to driving position on the tee.

6. In a game apparatus, a tee arranged to sup port balls thereon, a ball reservoir adjacent said tee, pivotally mounted means operable to conduct balls from the reservoir and deposit the same on the tee, means actuable to engage said ball conducting means and pivot the same, means operable to intermittently actuate said last mentioned means, and means operable at will to vary the time interval between said intermittent actuations within predetermined limits.

WILLIAM V. MIDDLETON. 

